Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
11:19
Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
Published on: February 25, 2011
19.9K
Boric acid intercepts 80S ribosome migration from AUG-stop by stabilizing eRF1
Mayuki Tanaka1, Takeshi Yokoyama2,3, Hironori Saito4,5
1Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Nature Chemical Biology
|January 24, 2024
Summary
Plant cells regulate gene expression using translational controls. Boric acid excess downregulates NIP5;1 gene translation via a minimal upstream open reading frame (uORF), a process clarified by new research.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cells alter gene expression via translational controls in response to environmental changes.
- Plant NIP5;1 gene translation is downregulated by excess boric acid through upstream open reading frames (uORFs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which a minimal uORF regulates downstream gene translation in a boric acid-dependent manner.
Main Methods:
- Ribosome profiling
- Translation complex profile sequencing
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- Biochemical assays
Main Results:
- The 80S ribosome at the AUG-stop codon migrates into the downstream RNA segment, facilitating translation initiation.
- Boric acid hinders this process by stably confining eukaryotic release factor 1 on the 80S ribosome at the AUG-stop.
- A minimal, environment-responsive uORF controls translation.
Conclusions:
- This study provides molecular insights into how a minimal uORF regulates gene translation in response to environmental boric acid levels.
- The findings clarify the mechanism of boric acid-dependent translational control of NIP5;1 in plants.
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